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The Field

The game will be played indoors at Good Shepherd Church, Naperville,IL. The playing field shall be a rectangle at least 50 ft long and at least 30 ft wide, divided into two (2) equal sections by a center-line and attack-lines 3m from, and parallel to the centerline.

IDEAL MEASUREMENTS: 60’ x 30’ – Identical to a volleyball court.

The Equipment

The official ball used in tournament will be an 8.25″ rubber-coated foam ball. All participants must wear shoes, shirts, and pants/shorts. No jewelry, hats or metal objects may be worn. No undergarments should be showing.

The Game

The object of the game is to eliminate all opposing players by getting them “OUT”. This may be done by:

Hitting an opposing player with a LIVE thrown ball below the shoulders. Once hit, a player MUST exit as quickly as they can out of the back of the court so as to not interfere with the game play.

Catching a LIVE ball inbounds thrown by your opponent before it touches the ground or back wall. The team catching the ball can bring in one more player (up to six) to the game.

Causing an opponent to drop a held ball as a result of contact by a thrown LIVE ball. (Usually occurs when a ball is being used as a shield to block a thrown ball.)You may drop intentionally to catch another ball.

An opposing player completely stepping out of bounds to avoid getting hit by a LIVE thrown ball.

If a person deflects a thrown ball with another ball, the thrown ball is still live. Catching this deflected ball prior to the ball hitting the back wall, ceiling, floor, etc., will result in the thrower being called out and the team catching the ball can bring in one more player (up to six) into the game.

A catch is considered a ball held under control with two feet inbounds (similar to football rules).

As soon as a ball hits the floor, ceiling, back wall, side boundary or any item outside the playing field it is a dead ball. If a ball hits you then the back wall, the ball is dead upon hitting the wall and you are out. If the ball hits the back wall then you, it is a dead ball.

All balls must be thrown from behind the Center Line

Players may not place a ball on the other side of the Center Line.

Definition: LIVE: A ball that has been thrown and has not touched the floor/ground, a wall, the ceiling, an official, spectator or other item outside of the playing field.

All referee decisions are final. Crossing over the Center Line and touching the ground on the opposing side at any time will cause that player to be Out.

Boundaries

During play, all players must remain within the boundary lines. A hand or foot completely over the side or center line is considered out of bounds.

Players may leave the boundaries through their end-line only to retrieve stray balls. They must also return through their end-line. When retrieving an out of bounds ball, players must completely return to the court before throwing, catching or being called out by a hit ball. Players may not leave the playing field to avoid being hit. No part of a players body may cross the center line AND contact the ground on the opponents’ side of the court. Players may not cross the center line during the Opening Rush. A player can be called out if a definite advantage is gained by this action. Spectators cannot pass balls to players.

Opening Rush

Game begins by placing the dodgeballs along the center line – three (3) on one side of the center hash and three (3) on the other. Players then take a position behind their end line and touching the back wall. Following a signal by the official, teams may approach the centerline to retrieve the balls. This signal officially starts the contest. Teams may only retrieve the three (3) balls to their right of the center hash. Once a ball is retrieved it must be taken behind the Attack Line before it can be legally thrown in Pool Play, Overtime and Sudden Death. Sliding is not permitted. If at any time you cross the center line and have contact with the ground, you are out.

Games / Matches

Each game is five minutes long. There are three games per match. A minimum of three matches will be played by each team during Pool Play. All games will be played and will be counted to determine advancement to the Playoff Rounds.

Time Outs

Each team will be allowed one 30 second timeout per game. Following a time out, the same players that were on the court prior to the time out, must return to the court. There are no substitutions of players, except in case of injury. An Opening Rush is used to resume play following a time out.

Delay of Game

Delaying the game is not allowed. Any player making contact with a ball must make an attempt to throw out an opponent, within a reasonable amount of time.

10-second Violation / Burden Ball (Blue color ball)

We encourage active play. If no ball is thrown for ten seconds, the team with the Burden Ball (Blue Ball) must throw the Burden Ball. At the end of 10 seconds the team that did not give up or throw the Burden Ball across the center line will forfeit all the balls on their side. Rolling the balls is not encouraged.

Ending Games

Pool Play

The first team to legally eliminate all opposing players will be declared the winner of that game. If neither team has been fully eliminated at the end of five minutes, the team with the greater number of players remaining will be declared the winner.

Pool Play Sudden Death (SD)

In the case of an equal number of players remaining after five minutes, the game goes into Sudden Death. Sudden Death starts with the same players that ended the five minute play on the court. An Opening Rush starts SD. There is no time limit in SD. The first team to lose a player in SD, loses the game.

Playoff Rounds

The first team to legally eliminate all opposing players will be declared the winner of that game. If a team is not completely eliminated within regulation time, the game goes into Sudden Death.

Playoff Sudden Death (SD)

If a team is not completely eliminated during regulation time (5 minutes) the game goes into Sudden Death. Sudden Death starts with the same players that ended regulation play on the court. An Opening Rush starts SD. There is no time limit in SD. The first team to lose a player in SD, loses the game. In the Playoff Rounds, the first team to win two out of the three games in their match will advance to the next round of play.

Advancement

Teams will advance to the next round of competition based on:

total number of matches won during current round of competition.

head to head results during current round of competition.

total number of games won during current round of competition.

most number of players remaining on the court at the end of each game, during current round of competition.

If still tied, one three game match will be played based on Pool Play advancement & SD rules. The first team to win two games advances.

Rule Enforcement

Play is on the Honor System.

All players will be expected to rule whether or not they were eliminated by a legal hit. All contests will be supervised by at least one referee. The referees’ responsibilities will be to rule whether or not hits they observe are legal.

All referee decisions are final – No exceptions.

Code of Conduct

Understand, appreciate and abide by the rules of the game.

Respect the integrity and judgment of the volunteer staff.

Respect your opponent and congratulate them in a courteous manner following each match whether in victory or defeat.

Be responsible for your actions and maintain self-control.

Do not taunt or bait opponents and refrain from using foul or abusive language.

No tobacco products or alcohol is permitted on the church grounds.

This is a family fundraiser, children are present. Swearing will not be tolerated, nor will fits or rage.

Anyone in violation of this code of conduct as declared by the tournament personnel will be disqualified from the tournament without refund and will be asked to leave the premises immediately.